History of the Jews 1 Exodus

Kumar Harshvardhan
14 Oct 201653:02

Summary

TLDRThis script explores the rich history of the Jewish people, from their monotheistic origins over 3000 years ago to their enduring cultural impact. It narrates their trials, from exile to the Babylonian conquest, the return to Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great, and the construction of the Second Temple by Ezra. The script delves into the significance of the Torah, the Maccabean Revolt, and the influence of Hellenistic and Roman cultures. It highlights key moments like the Exodus, the Ten Commandments, and the building of Herod's Temple, showcasing the resilience and faith of the Jewish people throughout history.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŒ The history of the Jewish people began over 3000 years ago with the development of monotheism, which had a profound impact on the world.
  • ๐Ÿ™๏ธ Jerusalem has been a contested city for centuries, with the Jewish people often at the mercy of superior conquerors.
  • ๐Ÿ“œ The Torah, created by compiling religious traditions, is central to the Jewish religion and resembles the first five books of the Old Testament.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ The Book of Exodus tells the story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt, a significant event celebrated during Passover.
  • ๐Ÿ”๏ธ The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, form the ethical foundation of the Jewish faith and regulate people's relationship with God.
  • ๐Ÿ›๏ธ The Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments, was a visible sign of God's presence and a symbol of the Israelites' covenant with God.
  • ๐Ÿ—๏ธ King David conquered Jerusalem and made it the new capital, bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the city and initiating a period of significant construction.
  • ๐Ÿ•‹ The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC led to the destruction of the city and the exile of the Judean upper class to Babylon.
  • ๐Ÿ›๏ธ The return of the Judeans from Babylonian exile, allowed by Persian King Cyrus, marked a new beginning for the Jewish people and the reestablishment of their religious and cultural identity.
  • ๐ŸŸ๏ธ Herod the Great, declared king by the Roman Senate, undertook massive construction projects in Jerusalem, including a new temple, to impress his subjects and solidify his rule.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of monotheism in the history of the Jewish people?

    -Monotheism, the belief in one God who tolerates no other gods, was a revolutionary idea that originated with the Jewish people over 3000 years ago and has had a profound impact on the world, shaping their identity and religious practices.

  • How did the Jews maintain their identity after being scattered around the world due to wars and persecution?

    -The Jewish people maintained their identity through their shared history, religious beliefs, and cultural practices, as well as through the compilation of their religious traditions into the Torah, which stands at the center of Judaism.

  • What role did Ezra play in the resurrection of Jerusalem after the captivity in Babylon?

    -Ezra, a priest and scribe, led the Jews back to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He and his followers brought gold and jewelry to help rebuild the city and the temple, and his knowledge and patience made him a revered religious leader.

  • What is the significance of the Torah in the Jewish religion and its relation to the Old Testament?

    -The Torah is the central text of the Jewish religion, containing the teachings and laws that have guided Jewish life for millennia. It is also the first five books of the Old Testament, making it a significant text for both Jews and Christians.

  • What is the story of Exodus and its importance in Jewish history?

    -The story of Exodus tells of the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery under the leadership of Moses, who was given a mission by God. This story is central to Jewish history and is celebrated annually during Passover, symbolizing freedom and the establishment of the Jewish people as a distinct entity.

  • What are the Ten Commandments and their significance in the Jewish faith?

    -The Ten Commandments are a set of moral and religious laws given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. They regulate the relationship between people and God and serve as the ethical foundation of civilization, being a cornerstone of the Jewish, and by extension, the Christian faith.

  • What is the significance of circumcision in Jewish tradition and its symbolism?

    -Circumcision is an important symbolic act in Jewish tradition, marking the covenant between God and the Jewish people. It is performed on every male Jewish infant eight days after birth and signifies his initiation into the Jewish community.

  • What was the significance of the Ark of the Covenant in the Israelites' journey to the promised land?

    -The Ark of the Covenant was a portable shrine containing the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. It served as a visible sign of God's presence and a symbol of the Israelites' covenant with God, providing them with guidance and assurance during their journey.

  • What is the historical significance of the city of Jerusalem to the Jewish people?

    -Jerusalem holds immense historical significance for the Jewish people as it is considered the center of their faith and the location of the First and Second Temples. It has been the site of many pivotal events in Jewish history, including the reign of King David and the construction of Solomon's Temple.

  • What was the impact of the Babylonian exile on the Jewish people and their faith?

    -The Babylonian exile was a period of great suffering for the Jewish people, but it also led to a strengthening of their faith and identity. During this time, they developed a strong sense of unity and longing for their homeland, which was later fulfilled when Cyrus the Great allowed them to return to Jerusalem.

  • How did the Maccabees' revolt against Hellenistic influence impact the Jewish people and their culture?

    -The Maccabees' revolt was a significant event that resisted the Hellenization of Jewish culture and the suppression of Jewish religious practices. The successful rebellion led to the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, an event celebrated today as Hanukkah, symbolizing the importance of religious freedom and cultural identity.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŒ The Origins and Dispersal of the Jewish People

This paragraph delves into the ancient beginnings of the Jewish people over 3000 years ago in the desert, where the concept of monotheism emerged, profoundly impacting the world. The narrative recounts the trials of war and persecution that led to the scattering of Jews globally. Despite these adversities, Jews have significantly contributed as thinkers, scientists, and artists, maintaining their identity through the ages. The script also touches on the historical significance of Jerusalem and the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity under the leadership of Ezra, who played a crucial role in the resurrection of Jerusalem and the Jewish faith.

05:01

๐Ÿ“œ The Creation of the Torah and the Exodus

The paragraph discusses the compilation of religious traditions by the Jewish people during their time in foreign lands, leading to the creation of the Torah, a central text in Judaism and the first five books of the Christian Old Testament. The story of Exodus is highlighted, detailing the mission of Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egyptian servitude after a series of plagues. The importance of the book of Exodus in understanding the Jewish people's origins is emphasized, along with the celebration of Passover as a remembrance of their liberation from Egypt.

10:02

๐Ÿ› The Struggle for the Promised Land and the Ten Commandments

This section of the script focuses on the Israelites' arduous journey towards the 'Promised Land,' facing challenges such as scarcity of food and water. The significance of Mount Sinai is underscored as the location where God is said to have given Moses the Ten Commandments, which serve as the ethical foundation of civilization. The paragraph also details the cultural and religious practices of the Israelites, including circumcision as a covenant with God and the use of prayer straps known as tefillin.

15:03

๐Ÿบ The Israelites' Settlement and the Quest for a Unified State

The paragraph describes the Israelites' settlement in different regions following their Exodus and their encounters with powerful enemies. It narrates the growing dissatisfaction with tribal leadership, culminating in the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel by the judge Samuel. The paragraph also introduces key figures like David, who became a symbol of heroism after defeating Goliath, and the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of the unified kingdom under his rule.

20:03

๐Ÿ›  Archaeological Insights into the Biblical Era

This part of the script brings to light archaeological findings that provide insights into the biblical era, including the discovery of a stone fragment in Tel Dan with an inscription mentioning the 'house of David.' It discusses the challenges in verifying biblical accounts of the conquest of Canaan and the Israelites' settlement in Shiloh. The narrative also touches upon the skepticism of scholars like Israel Finkelstein, who question the historicity of certain biblical events.

25:05

๐Ÿบ The Babylonian Exile and the Restoration of Jerusalem

The paragraph recounts the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Judean upper class, as well as the allowance for the common people to remain or move to Egypt. It describes the life of the Judeans in Babylon, their longing for Jerusalem, and their faith that united them. The script also highlights the pivotal moment when Persian King Cyrus conquered Babylon and permitted the Judeans to return home, marking a significant chapter in Jewish history.

30:05

๐Ÿ“œ The Compilation of the Torah and the Influence of Hellenism

This section discusses the compilation of the Torah by Ezra and other scholars post-exile, emphasizing its role in reinforcing the identity of the Jewish people. The script also explores the impact of Hellenistic civilization on the region after Alexander the Great's conquest, including the construction of cities like Marissa and the influence of Greek culture on Jewish life.

35:07

๐Ÿ”จ The Maccabean Revolt and the Rediscovery of Jewish Identity

The paragraph narrates the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenistic rulers, led by the priest Mattathias and his son Judas Maccabeus, who fought against the forced adoption of Greek customs and the suppression of Jewish religious practices. The story culminates in the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem, the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, and the establishment of Hanukkah as a celebration of Jewish resilience and faith.

40:10

๐ŸŸ๏ธ The Reign of Herod the Great and Roman Domination

This section delves into the reign of Herod the Great, who, despite being seen as a Roman puppet by many Jews, embarked on ambitious construction projects to modernize Judea and impress his subjects. Herod's efforts to build a new temple in Jerusalem, which would surpass Solomon's in grandeur, are highlighted, as well as the economic and cultural boom it brought to the region. The paragraph also touches on the political dynamics between the Jews and the Romans, hinting at the tension that would shape their future relations.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กMonotheism

Monotheism is the belief in the existence of only one God. It is a central concept in the video script, as it represents the foundational belief of the Jewish people that originated over 3000 years ago. The script explains how this belief system was revolutionary and had a profound impact on the course of world history. For instance, the video describes the development of monotheism as an idea that 'would change the world,' highlighting its significance in shaping the Jewish identity and their religious practices.

๐Ÿ’กDiaspora

Diaspora refers to the widespread dispersion of a population from their original homeland. In the context of the video, the Jewish diaspora denotes the scattering of Jews around the world due to war and persecution. This concept is integral to understanding the resilience and adaptability of the Jewish people, as mentioned in the script where it states 'war and persecution, scattered the Jews all around the world.' The diaspora is also significant as it led to the establishment of Jewish communities in various regions, contributing to their cultural diversity and survival as a distinct group.

๐Ÿ’กJerusalem

Jerusalem is a city of profound religious significance, especially in Judaism. The script frequently mentions Jerusalem as a focal point for the Jewish faith and history. It is described as the destination of the Jewish people's return from captivity in Babylon, as well as the site where the temple, a central place of worship, was to be rebuilt. The city's importance is further emphasized by its role in various historical events, such as the reign of King David and the construction projects of Herod the Great.

๐Ÿ’กTorah

The Torah is the central reference of the Jewish law and religious tradition, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The script describes the creation of the Torah as a compilation of religious traditions, including stories, revelations, and laws of God. It is depicted as a crucial element in maintaining the Jewish identity and faith, especially during times of dispersion. The script also highlights the Torah's significance in the formation of the Jewish religion and its enduring presence as the 'book of teaching and the law'.

๐Ÿ’กExodus

Exodus refers to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses, as described in the Bible. The script recounts the story of Exodus as a pivotal event in Jewish history, symbolizing the journey from oppression to freedom. The book of Exodus within the Torah plays a central role, narrating the dramatic story of God's intervention and the subsequent liberation of the Israelites. The script also mentions how the event is commemorated through the Jewish holiday of Passover.

๐Ÿ’กTen Commandments

The Ten Commandments are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, inscribed on two stone tablets received by Moses from God. The script explains their significance as the ethical foundation of the Jewish, and by extension, Western civilization. They are highlighted in the context of the covenant made at Mount Sinai, where Moses brought the commandments down to the people, signifying the start of a binding agreement between the Israelites and God.

๐Ÿ’กCircumcision

Circumcision is a religious and cultural practice signifying the covenant between God and the Jewish people. The script describes it as an important commandment and a symbolic act marking the initiation of every male Jewish infant into the Jewish community. It is mentioned as a rite of passage that occurs eight days after birth, serving as a physical reminder of the covenant and the child's identity as a Jew.

๐Ÿ’กHanukkah

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The script recounts the story of the Maccabees' revolt against the Hellenistic King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, leading to the liberation and purification of the temple. The miracle of Hanukkah, as described in the script, involves a single container of oil that miraculously lasted for eight days, symbolizing the perseverance and faith of the Jewish people.

๐Ÿ’กHerod the Great

Herod the Great was a Roman client king of Judea, known for his ambitious construction projects and political acumen. The script describes him as a controversial figure who sought to modernize Judea and win favor with the Jewish people by building grand structures, including the renovation of the Second Temple. Despite his efforts, he was viewed with suspicion by many Jews as a puppet of Rome, yet his influence on the region's architecture and economy was undeniable.

๐Ÿ’กJudea

Judea refers to the ancient region in the Southern Levant, inhabited primarily by the Jewish people. The script discusses Judea's historical significance as the homeland of the Jews, its conquest by various empires, and its transformation under different rulers. The region's history is marked by periods of autonomy, foreign rule, and cultural exchange, as illustrated by the script's references to the Babylonian exile, the return under Persian rule, and the incorporation into the Roman Empire.

๐Ÿ’กCyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire and is notable in the script for his policy ofๅฎฝๅฎน towards conquered peoples. The script highlights his decree allowing the Judeans to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple after the Babylonian exile. This act earned him a significant place in Jewish history, being interpreted by some as a divine intervention for the benefit of the Jewish people.

Highlights

The Jewish people's history began over 3000 years ago with the development of monotheism.

Jews have been scattered worldwide due to war and persecution, maintaining their identity through various contributions as thinkers, scientists, and artists.

The city of Jerusalem has been a significant center for the Jewish faith, despite being fought over repeatedly throughout history.

The return of the Jews to Jerusalem under Ezra's leadership and the resurrection of the city as the Jewish faith center post-Babylonian captivity.

The creation of the Torah, the central text of Jewish religion, which also resembles the first five books of the Old Testament.

The Book of Exodus's central role in telling the dramatic story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt.

The celebration of Passover as a symbol of liberation and the significance of unleavened bread (matzah) in the remembrance of the Exodus.

The Ten Commandments as the ethical foundation of civilization and their unique representation in Jewish faith.

The importance of circumcision as a covenant between every male Jew and God, symbolizing initiation into the Jewish world.

The significance of the Ark of the Covenant as a visible sign of God's presence with the Israelites.

The conquest of Canaan and the establishment of a fixed center for the Israelites' shrine in Shiloh, though this account is disputed by some scholars.

The reign of King David, the symbol of a hero, and his conquest of Jerusalem, making it the new capital.

The construction of Solomon's Temple, intended to be a symbol of faith and the center of the Jewish religion.

The division of the kingdom after Solomon's death into Israel and Judea, leading to hostile coexistence and external threats.

The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the exile of the Judean upper class, leading to the loss of their religious center.

The return of the Judeans from Babylonian exile under Cyrus the Great's decree, allowing them to rebuild their homeland.

The compilation of the Torah as a means to reinforce the identity and boundaries of the Jewish nation.

The influence of Hellenistic culture on the Jewish people and the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenization of Jewish life.

The story of Hanukkah, celebrating the rededication of the temple and the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days.

The incorporation of Judea into the Roman province of Syria and the rise of Herod the Great as a Roman-backed king.

Herod's ambitious construction projects, including the expansion of Jerusalem and the building of a new temple.

The impact of Roman rule on the Jewish people and the potential for conflict between foreign domination and Jewish autonomy.

Transcripts

play00:02

the history of the Jewish people began

play00:05

more than 3000 years ago in the desert

play00:08

an idea developed of the one and only

play00:11

God one who tolerates no other gods but

play00:14

him monotheism was an idea that would

play00:16

change the world war and persecution

play00:19

scattered the Jews all around the world

play00:22

it's a story of splendor and suffering

play00:24

that leads right up to the present day

play00:26

they've left their mark as great

play00:28

thinkers scientists and artists how did

play00:31

the Jews manage to maintain their

play00:32

identity over all these years

play00:35

[Music]

play00:43

[Applause]

play00:49

the Jews history other people Jerusalem

play00:58

450 BC for centuries the city's being

play01:01

fought over time and again the Jewish

play01:03

people have been at the mercy of

play01:05

superior conquerors

play01:06

[Music]

play01:13

after a long captivity in Babylon the

play01:16

Jews are finally allowed to return to

play01:18

their homeland in Jerusalem the last to

play01:27

arrive are being impatiently awaited

play01:31

they are being led by the priest and

play01:33

scribe Ezra he and his followers bring

play01:36

gold and jewelry with them Jerusalem

play01:42

must be resurrected and be the center of

play01:44

the Jewish faith the belief in the one

play01:47

God with Asura's helped the Jews want to

play01:49

rebuild the temple that the Babylonians

play01:51

destroyed

play02:04

[Music]

play02:06

part-1 Exodus

play02:14

Ezra's knowledge and his patients are

play02:16

vaunted everywhere soon the people of

play02:19

Jerusalem will vote him their religious

play02:21

leader they kept their people's memories

play02:27

and stories in the foreign land the

play02:29

creation of the world the first people

play02:32

and the Great Flood stories of heroes

play02:34

and warriors full of wonder and mystery

play02:37

revelations and laws of their God now

play02:40

they're compiling all of these religious

play02:42

traditions for the rest of time

play02:48

[Music]

play02:53

thus the Torah was created the book of

play02:56

teaching and the law to this day this

play03:11

book stands at the center of the Jewish

play03:13

religion but the Torah is not of

play03:15

significance only for Jews it resembles

play03:17

the first five books of the Old

play03:19

Testament the first part of the

play03:21

Christian Bible the Torah is one of our

play03:27

few sources concerning the origin of the

play03:29

Jewish people the book of Exodus plays a

play03:32

central role it tells a dramatic story

play03:35

that probably began more than 3000 years

play03:37

ago

play03:41

it is written that God appeared to the

play03:44

Shepherd Moses in a burning bush and

play03:46

gave him a mission I have seen the

play03:52

oppression wherewith the Egyptians

play03:54

oppress them I will send thee unto

play03:56

Pharaoh that thou mayst bring forth my

play03:58

people the children of Israel out of

play04:00

Egypt

play04:01

[Music]

play04:09

for 400 years the Jews have lived in

play04:11

Egyptian servitude

play04:13

now Moses begs Pharaoh let my people go

play04:16

but the Egyptian ruler declines so God

play04:20

brings plagues and natural disasters

play04:22

onto the land and when all the firstborn

play04:24

of the Egyptians die Pharaoh lets the

play04:27

Israelites go free

play04:35

but he sends his soldiers in pursuit the

play04:39

book of Exodus tells the fate of the

play04:41

Israelites with God's help they managed

play04:43

to escape through the sea the Egyptians

play04:46

drown in the floods

play04:58

Moses is leading the Israelites through

play05:00

the desert what keeps them going is

play05:02

there hope for God's promised land

play05:04

flowing with milk and honey

play05:08

[Music]

play05:14

young and old men women and children

play05:18

600,000 people so it is said and their

play05:21

goal is freedom a life without slavery

play05:29

[Music]

play05:38

to this day Jews celebrate Passover and

play05:41

remember their Exodus their flight from

play05:44

Egypt it is said that they left quickly

play05:52

and in secret there was no time to

play05:54

prepare sourdough for their bread that's

play05:57

why Jews still eat matzah and Passover

play05:59

the unleavened bread they also eat

play06:07

salted eggs bitter herbs and other foods

play06:10

whose color and texture resemble

play06:12

Egyptian clay and whose taste reminds

play06:15

them of bitter times State Pesach

play06:28

today Passover is the focal point

play06:30

because it means liberation not just the

play06:33

liberation of Israel in the beginning of

play06:35

the history of the Jewish people up to

play06:38

that time history was as is told by

play06:40

Genesis the history of the individuals

play06:42

patriarchs of families and of clans but

play06:46

in Exodus Israel enters the world stage

play06:48

as a people divided into tribes it it's

play06:51

true but they are a unit deep unity this

play06:54

history begins with liberation before

play06:57

you but that also means that as Passover

play06:59

is a symbol of freedom D freiheit

play07:03

the basic freedom that everyone is

play07:05

entitled to not just Israel mentioned

play07:09

two-state the path to freedom is hard in

play07:13

the third month the fugitives reach

play07:15

Sinai this peninsular lies between Egypt

play07:18

and modern-day Israel the Israelites are

play07:22

said to have fought their way to the

play07:23

promised land through this inhospitable

play07:25

environment they don't have enough water

play07:28

or food every day as a test is God

play07:31

really with them

play07:34

[Music]

play07:38

on Mount Sinai so it is written in the

play07:41

Bible God appears to Moses once more

play07:44

[Music]

play07:46

now therefore if you will obey my voice

play07:49

indeed and keep my covenant then ye

play07:52

shall be a peculiar treasure unto me

play07:54

from among all peoples for all the earth

play07:57

is mine

play08:00

the 2300 metre Jebel Musa the mountain

play08:03

of Moses is said to be the place where

play08:05

this covenant was made to this day it's

play08:07

a place of great significance for Jews

play08:09

Christians and Muslims alike Moses

play08:13

brings two stone tablets with him from

play08:15

the summit into which the Ten

play08:17

Commandments are chiseled they regulate

play08:19

people's relationship to God and are

play08:21

also the ethical bedrock of civilization

play08:27

the first commandments are wider bear

play08:30

Elohim it color I am THE LORD thy God

play08:32

which brought thee out of the land of

play08:34

Egypt out of the house of bondage thou

play08:37

shalt have none other gods before me

play08:39

thou shalt not make unto thee a graven

play08:41

image nor any likeness munna

play08:44

a Chaba Shama me Mull Pacha bara Smita

play08:47

had shocking Commandments new and alien

play08:51

all the other cultures all around

play08:53

worship many gods and make likenesses

play08:55

and statues of them the Israelites alone

play08:58

are to believe their God to be so great

play09:00

that there is no room for other gods and

play09:02

that no image could represent him

play09:05

[Music]

play09:12

again and again Moses reminds the people

play09:15

of God's words and if you shall reject

play09:18

my statutes and break my covenant I also

play09:21

will do this unto you I will appoint

play09:24

terror over you even consumption and

play09:26

fever that shall consume the eyes and

play09:28

make the soul to pine away the Torah

play09:33

contains a further 603 injunctions they

play09:36

regulate the whole of life from waking

play09:38

to sleeping from the cradle to the grave

play09:40

it's the duty of every Jew to follow

play09:43

them but they also give security and

play09:46

strength in the urban flow of history in

play09:48

every place on earth

play09:49

one important commandment also demands

play09:52

the circumcision of every male Jew eight

play09:54

days after his birth just like their

play10:00

forefathers every male Jewish infant is

play10:02

circumcised eight days after his birth

play10:04

as a symbol of his covenant with God

play10:06

this important symbolic act marks his

play10:09

initiation into the Jewish world and is

play10:11

celebrated with a big party

play10:14

[Music]

play10:20

Pablito thought he must miss covenant is

play10:25

of great importance for the people of

play10:26

Israel it's very difficult to live such

play10:29

a covenant because the human being must

play10:31

be convinced that it's not only his

play10:33

accident speak of his relationship with

play10:34

God but also his body

play10:38

Maremma

play10:40

allocation shallow email Hakeem Ella

play10:43

gamble for circumcision is a painful in

play10:46

a comprehensible step that frightens

play10:48

parents before they do this to the

play10:51

resulted ship movie of behad l'olam if

play10:56

Mishima see Mozilla Ben Shalom the

play10:59

prayer straps known as tefillin also

play11:02

remind faithful Jews of the unbreakable

play11:04

covenant with God

play11:11

volha shown working with I'm sure every

play11:16

little box contains four Torah texts

play11:19

written on parchment and it shall be for

play11:24

a sign unto thee upon thine hand and for

play11:27

a memorial between thine eyes that the

play11:29

law of the Lord may be in thy mouth for

play11:32

with a strong hand hath the Lord brought

play11:34

thee out of Egypt at my service appalled

play11:39

because I'm Alisha Monica it is written

play11:43

that the Israelites wandered through the

play11:45

desert for forty years

play11:48

then they reached Mount Nebo in

play11:51

modern-day Jordan it was here that Moses

play11:54

set eyes on the promised land and once

play11:56

again he heard God's voice this is the

play12:00

land which I swear unto Abraham unto

play12:02

Isaac and unto Jacob saying I will give

play12:05

it unto thy seed I have caused the to

play12:07

see it with thine eyes but thou shalt

play12:09

not go over thither

play12:13

[Music]

play12:14

Moses was never to reach the destination

play12:16

of their long journey he died and was

play12:19

buried at an unknown location

play12:21

[Music]

play12:22

[Applause]

play12:24

Eretz Israel the Land of Israel to this

play12:28

day it remains the land of longing for

play12:30

many Jews according to biblical dating

play12:33

the Israelites entered Canaan around

play12:34

1300 BC there they met other peoples

play12:38

with whom they will be at war time and

play12:39

again over the coming centuries on their

play12:45

way to the promised land the Israelites

play12:47

carry the Ark of the Covenant with them

play12:49

they keep the stone tablets with the Ten

play12:51

Commandments that sealed their contract

play12:53

with God in this golden chest the

play12:56

portable shrine is the visible sign for

play12:58

them and their enemies God is always

play13:00

with us

play13:08

[Music]

play13:20

after conquering the land the Israelites

play13:22

are said to have congregated in Shiloh

play13:24

for the time being which is between

play13:26

Jerusalem and modern-day Nablus for the

play13:28

first time they have a fixed center for

play13:30

their shrine the time of wandering seems

play13:33

over the nomads become settled but once

play13:41

their Exodus really as the Bible tells

play13:43

it many scholars today doubt this

play13:46

account the conquest of Canaan by the

play13:48

Israelites is also contested

play13:50

indefatigable archaeologists are looking

play13:53

for definitive traces Israel Finkelstein

play14:04

from the University of Tel Aviv

play14:06

questions many biblical events

play14:10

archeology has shown in the last century

play14:13

or so that many of the sites which are

play14:15

mentioned in the text in relation to the

play14:17

conquest story simply did not exist were

play14:21

not inhabited so to speak at that time

play14:23

and secondly we know today that the fall

play14:26

of the Canaanite system gypto Canaanite

play14:30

system was a long process so the we are

play14:33

not dealing with a military conquest of

play14:36

Canaan by a group of people who march

play14:38

under one leadership and take you know

play14:40

one city after the other the Torah isn't

play14:44

a historical treatise it's a book of

play14:47

faith in which the birth of the people

play14:48

is recorded

play14:51

[Music]

play14:57

the shrine has its place in Shiloh but

play15:00

at the moment it's still a tabernacle a

play15:02

tent a portable temple as a symbol of

play15:05

the unconsolidated condition of the

play15:07

young state

play15:16

many hundreds of years later Ezra the

play15:19

priest and other scholars write down the

play15:22

history of their ancestors this is how

play15:24

the Israelites are said to have settled

play15:26

in different places after their Exodus

play15:28

only weekly allied with each other they

play15:31

were however surrounded by powerful

play15:33

enemies the Israelites were dissatisfied

play15:36

so it is written their tribal leaders

play15:38

the judges were no longer adequate the

play15:41

demands of the people grew louder and

play15:43

louder

play15:47

that we also may be like all the nations

play15:50

and that our king may judge us and go

play15:53

out before us and fight our battles

play15:59

[Music]

play16:02

it is intended that the old judge Samuel

play16:06

who was living in Shiloh should anoint

play16:08

this king

play16:09

the wise Samuel accepts the task even

play16:12

though he warns at the dangers of an

play16:13

abuse of power but his objections fall

play16:16

on deaf ears and so Saul becomes the

play16:19

first king of Israel and the loose

play16:21

association of tribes becomes a state is

play16:26

it not that the Lord hath anointed thee

play16:28

to be Prince over his inheritance

play16:35

the main enemies of Saul and his young

play16:37

Kingdom are the Philistines the maritime

play16:40

nation has a well-organized army and

play16:42

powerful weapons they steal the Ark of

play16:45

the Covenant more than once

play16:49

in their fight against the Philistines

play16:51

it is one Israelite in particular who

play16:54

attracts attention the shepherd boy

play16:56

David with a simple slingshot he subdued

play16:59

the huge Philistine Goliath so it is

play17:02

said

play17:03

King Saul is jealous of young David he

play17:06

fears him as a rival and exiled him

play17:09

in exile David makes a name for himself

play17:11

as a relentless warrior

play17:20

the victory over Goliath becomes the

play17:23

symbol of the successful battle of one

play17:25

who is weaker against a more powerful

play17:27

enemy and David is the symbol of a hero

play17:30

par excellence

play17:31

[Music]

play17:36

even though not everything written about

play17:38

him resounds to his honor there are

play17:44

paths of the story let's say in the book

play17:48

of Samuel where we do have I think texts

play17:52

describing David in a genuine historical

play17:56

way when you have David as a

play17:58

troublemaker living on the margins of

play18:00

society going with his gang you know

play18:03

extortion here protecting a city there

play18:06

running away from Seoul making troubles

play18:09

this is probably historical David and

play18:12

his soldiers are in a war camp when a

play18:15

messenger arrives at the tent

play18:16

he has tragic news the messenger says he

play18:20

only just managed to escape the enemy he

play18:22

says he has Saul's headdress and his

play18:24

armband Saul fell in the battle against

play18:27

the Philistines David appears shaken the

play18:31

king is dead

play18:34

though a homeless is groomer minute

play18:39

according to tradition he tore his shirt

play18:42

honest morning

play18:44

or cold calculation only a short while

play18:47

later David is crowned King David

play18:56

conquers the town of Jeffers from the

play18:58

Jebusites living there from now on it is

play19:00

called Jerusalem and he is victorious

play19:03

against the invading Philistines very

play19:05

soon the king is ruling over a large

play19:07

Kingdom so it is written in the Bible

play19:14

the City of Jerusalem is the new capital

play19:17

it is here that David brings the holy of

play19:20

holies of the Israelites the Ark of the

play19:22

Covenant with the stone tablets of the

play19:24

law

play19:35

the oldest part of the city still

play19:38

carries his name today here David

play19:40

City of David archaeologist Ronnie

play19:43

Wright is leading the excavations here

play19:45

there are hardly any fines from the

play19:47

legendary times of King David and his

play19:49

son Solomon a terraced complex is the

play19:52

exception at first it was ignored when

play19:54

archaeologists excavated it around 1970

play19:59

it became important the moment that

play20:03

scholars started to question the problem

play20:06

of the what we call the 10th century BC

play20:08

the days of Solomon David and Solomon in

play20:11

Jerusalem and then saying that we don't

play20:14

have much of this period of time in

play20:18

Jerusalem so suddenly the stepped

play20:21

structure is actually the only

play20:26

architectural element which might in

play20:29

some according to some interpretation

play20:33

might belong to this period of time and

play20:35

it is a big thing it's not just a

play20:37

private house for a long time these

play20:41

ruins were the only remains

play20:43

[Music]

play20:47

but in 1993 archeologists made a

play20:51

sensational discovery a stone fragment

play20:54

was found in Tel Dan the Hebraic

play20:57

inscription mentions the house of David

play20:59

it's the only non biblical confirmation

play21:02

for the existence of his dynasty

play21:04

[Music]

play21:06

in order to crown his life's work David

play21:09

wants to build got a temple but God

play21:12

offends him off

play21:14

thou shalt not build an house unto my

play21:17

name because thou hast shed much blood

play21:19

upon the earth in my sight it was only

play21:23

David's son Solomon who built the first

play21:26

temple on a hill near the City of David

play21:28

now the city is not only the seat of the

play21:30

king but also the center of the faith

play21:37

according to the Bible there was a room

play21:39

in the interior of the temple that was

play21:41

only accessible to the high priests and

play21:44

the priests brought in the Ark of the

play21:47

Covenant of the Lord unto its place into

play21:50

the Oracle of the house to the most holy

play21:52

place even under the wings of the

play21:54

cherubim but where the city in the

play21:58

temple really as big as they were

play22:00

described in the 10th century BC

play22:03

Jerusalem was a very small town maybe a

play22:06

village not fortified no monumental

play22:11

buildings the temple itself was probably

play22:13

kind of a modest building the shrine of

play22:16

the dynasty the Chapel of the dynasty if

play22:18

you wish and there could have been a

play22:20

modest palace as well Jerusalem grows to

play22:24

become a big city an influential city in

play22:28

the late 8th century when Judah is

play22:31

incorporated into the Assyrian global

play22:34

world economy the Bible remains the only

play22:37

testimony to the temples existence an

play22:39

exact search for evidence of remains of

play22:42

the legendary building is not possible

play22:44

for religious and political reasons

play22:46

because these days the Muslim Dome of

play22:48

the rock and the al-aqsa mosque stand

play22:51

here

play22:54

after Solomon's death the kingdom breaks

play22:57

into two Israel in the north and Judea

play23:00

in the south

play23:01

for more than 200 years they live

play23:03

side-by-side in hostile coexistence

play23:05

always in danger of being overrun by a

play23:07

more powerful enemy

play23:19

right into the 8th century their

play23:21

religious customs are hardly different

play23:23

from those of other peoples around the

play23:25

Mediterranean monotheism hasn't yet

play23:27

asserted itself at this time they still

play23:30

worship other gods besides the One God

play23:32

such as the ancient bull God

play23:34

[Music]

play23:45

from time to time God even has a wife

play23:49

the ancient Syrian goddess Ashera it's a

play23:57

good time for prophets articulate men

play24:00

who warn of a return to pagan customs

play24:02

fearless they make themselves into the

play24:05

voice of God's messages they are both

play24:07

social critics and soothsayers the

play24:10

Prophet Jeremiah is one of those who

play24:12

demands penance and the return to

play24:14

stricter ways otherwise God would send a

play24:17

terrible tribunal and Jerusalem would

play24:19

perish for whom shall have pity upon the

play24:27

O Jerusalem or who shall bomb on thee or

play24:29

you shall turn aside to ask of my

play24:31

welfare thou has rejected me saith the

play24:34

Lord thou art gone backward

play24:42

the threats from external enemies are

play24:44

growing within the city walls there is

play24:47

hardly a single well the abundant Gyan

play24:50

source lies outside of the city walls

play24:52

then in the eighth century Hezekiah king

play24:55

of Judea plans an extraordinary project

play24:57

the building of a tunnel for water and

play25:00

so it is also written in the Bible

play25:04

this same Hezekiah also stopped the

play25:07

upper spring of the waters of Gihon and

play25:09

brought them straight down on the west

play25:11

side of the city of David and Hezekiah

play25:14

prospered in all his works a tunnel

play25:21

below the city was already discovered in

play25:23

the nineteenth century for a long time

play25:26

it was disputed whether this was the 8th

play25:28

century biblical tunnel or not in 2003

play25:31

researchers from Jerusalem decided to

play25:33

investigate the ancient tunnel with the

play25:36

help of radiometry they examined the

play25:38

tunnel walls the result is a sensation

play25:44

we managed here to date very accurately

play25:49

the oldest structure described in the

play25:54

Bible there is no structure in the Bible

play25:58

described in the Old Testament which has

play26:00

been really dated by scientific methods

play26:05

but how did workers of the Bronze Age

play26:07

managed to build a 530 metre tunnel into

play26:11

the mountain without losing their

play26:12

bearings especially since they dug from

play26:15

both ends at the same time as a

play26:17

contemporary inscription records did

play26:20

they simply follow the natural course of

play26:22

the water this is also a question that

play26:24

researchers are investigating by

play26:25

examining tears and gaps in the stone

play26:36

after underground research that took

play26:38

months aya Shimon is convinced that the

play26:41

tunnel is an architectural master work

play26:45

how are they possibly directed towards

play26:48

each other that was done by simply

play26:50

acoustic communication by guiding teams

play26:53

on the surface surface team underground

play26:56

team they heard each other and the

play26:59

surface team was able to guide the

play27:01

carving teams underground towards each

play27:04

other but since this the sound

play27:06

communication is not really all that

play27:08

precise it also then explains why the

play27:11

tunnel zigzags and swings around and

play27:14

does all kinds of funny things rather

play27:17

than goes in a straight line

play27:28

[Music]

play27:30

a new means of obtaining water can

play27:35

prolong a siege but it can't prevent a

play27:38

war

play27:43

in 586 BC the Babylonians conquered

play27:47

Jerusalem Jeremiah's prophecies come

play27:49

true then the king of Babylon slew the

play27:55

sons of Zedekiah in Riblet before his

play27:58

eyes and the Chaldeans burned the King's

play28:00

house and the house of the people with

play28:02

fire and break down the walls of

play28:04

Jerusalem this is what the Book of

play28:08

Jeremiah writes about the event that was

play28:10

to change the fate of Judea for a long

play28:12

time to come the Babylonian ruler

play28:16

nebuchadnezzar ii has yet more plans for

play28:19

judea's population after the destruction

play28:22

of jerusalem he takes the Judean upper

play28:24

class to Babylon as spoils of war

play28:27

the simple people are allowed to stay in

play28:29

the country or emigrate to neighboring

play28:31

Egypt

play28:38

[Music]

play28:42

the Judeans have lost their religious

play28:45

center and their land Jerusalem is in

play28:47

ashes will they also lose their faith in

play28:50

God

play28:50

[Music]

play29:03

Judea is assimilated into the Babylonian

play29:06

Kingdom that stretches from the

play29:08

Mediterranean to Persia in the center of

play29:10

this vast empire lies the legendary city

play29:13

of Babylon

play29:14

[Music]

play29:29

it is the time of nebuchadnezzar ii

play29:32

babylon is a city of superlatives

play29:35

witnesses are awestruck by its

play29:37

magnificence the houses are built of

play29:40

solid brick walls the Tower of Babel is

play29:43

legendary and the Hanging Gardens are

play29:45

among the seven wonders of the ancient

play29:46

world in around 500 BC the Greek

play29:51

historian Herodotus wrote Babylon wasn't

play29:54

just a fairly large city but it was also

play29:56

the most beautiful city of all the ones

play29:58

we know of

play29:59

[Music]

play30:01

at the beginning of the 20th century the

play30:05

German archaeologist horbet coal of a

play30:07

excavated a city that had long been

play30:09

forgotten

play30:25

most Judeans are living a good life in

play30:27

their Babylonian exile women and

play30:29

children can move about freely and many

play30:31

men are working as officials at the

play30:33

court the generations that grow up here

play30:36

only know their home from the stories of

play30:38

the elders their memories sound like a

play30:40

promise

play30:42

by the waters of Babylon we sat down and

play30:47

wept when we remembered thee Oh sigh on

play30:53

[Music]

play31:08

they called Jerusalem Zion the city

play31:12

chosen by God and His people for them it

play31:15

was the embodiment of the promised land

play31:17

their hope to one day return and their

play31:20

faith in their God United them in these

play31:22

foreign lands

play31:25

in 539 BC the Persian king Cyrus

play31:28

conquers Babylon and allows the Judeans

play31:31

to return home some decide to stay and

play31:34

found the Babylonian community that was

play31:36

to remain in existence for more than

play31:38

2,000 years cyrus thus ensured himself

play31:44

an important place in Jewish history was

play31:47

it political calculation or clemency

play31:50

towards the conquered people's on the so

play31:53

called Cyrus cylinder which is now in

play31:55

the British Museum in London the ruler

play31:57

had his achievements recorded I Cyrus

play32:02

king of this vast empire king of the

play32:04

four Shores of the world

play32:06

I brought the gods who were living there

play32:08

back to their place I got all their

play32:10

people together and brought them back to

play32:12

their homes I don't think this was the

play32:16

only example that was written under

play32:18

Cyrus I think there must have been many

play32:20

proclamations issued about what was

play32:23

going to happen and in the authorship of

play32:26

the Old Testament this was using the

play32:29

same terminology in some cases as the

play32:31

original Babylonian text interpreted

play32:33

that Cyrus was the messenger of the God

play32:37

of the Jews and that he had come

play32:38

specially to rescue the Jews in their

play32:40

predicament but the Jewish people are

play32:43

not mentioned in this text at all and

play32:45

the understanding that we have now and

play32:48

the fame of the cylinder from this point

play32:49

of view is based on the fact that the

play32:52

Jewish authors interpreted as it were

play32:55

for their own reasons something which

play32:57

Cyrus was saying for his own reasons

play33:02

[Music]

play33:08

for many scholars the history of the

play33:10

Jews begins with the return from exile

play33:13

this is the first time they speak of

play33:16

Jews they are faced by a great challenge

play33:19

Ezra and other scholars compile the

play33:21

Torah from writings and other traditions

play33:28

it reinforces the confidence of a small

play33:31

country that could always fall victim to

play33:33

its superior neighbors again the goals

play33:37

of the people in Jerusalem in late

play33:39

monarchic times before the destruction

play33:41

and the goals of the temple community

play33:44

without a king then after they came back

play33:46

from Babylonia are the same goals and

play33:50

both are dealing with giving an identity

play33:52

and with building the boundaries for the

play33:56

nation and both do that with mainly two

play34:00

platforms there's the platform of the

play34:03

law which is extremely important the

play34:05

book of Deuteronomy and so on and then

play34:08

there's the second platform the platform

play34:10

of history which explains how it all

play34:13

began what happened what went wrong how

play34:17

it can be fixed and what they're doing

play34:19

how in order to have a better future and

play34:21

the history part is also extremely

play34:24

important for giving the framework the

play34:27

boundaries the ethnic boundaries the

play34:29

identity the shrine of the book is in

play34:34

the Israel Museum here the oldest tor

play34:36

attacks that have been so far found are

play34:38

kept they are copies of copies they come

play34:42

from Qumran on the Dead Sea they were

play34:44

written down at around 240 BC

play34:48

[Music]

play34:59

the Torah became the most influential

play35:01

text of the past two and a half thousand

play35:04

years its triumphant March also resulted

play35:07

from its being part of the Christian

play35:09

Bible

play35:10

[Music]

play35:20

for devout Jews the Torah isn't a text

play35:23

that developed over time but a godly

play35:25

revelation every torah role has to be

play35:28

treated with the utmost care and can

play35:30

only be written by hand the sofa the

play35:34

Torah writer needs years of practice

play35:36

every one of the 300,000 letters is

play35:39

carefully formed

play35:40

[Music]

play35:49

[Music]

play35:56

since its seen as a living object it's

play35:59

only allowed to be made of natural

play36:01

materials it is written on vellum with a

play36:08

turkey or goose quill utmost

play36:10

concentration is required because any

play36:13

mistake would make the Torah unusable as

play36:20

befits its sacred status the Torah is

play36:24

kept in a special arc the holy ark every

play36:38

time it's taken out of the shrine the

play36:41

Cantor sings a song in its honor for its

play36:49

protection and decoration it is

play36:51

enveloped in decorative velvet and

play36:53

fitted with a crown of silver and gold

play36:55

the envelope is only taken off for a

play36:58

reading

play37:00

[Music]

play37:10

no the shortened trom disputa followed

play37:17

one can't imagine Judaism in the Jewish

play37:20

people without the Torah but now one has

play37:22

to ask what does the Torah mean is it

play37:25

the five books of Moses per se or the

play37:28

whole body of Jewish wisdom and

play37:29

teachings that arise from the Torah and

play37:32

we have to take the Torah as a whole and

play37:34

not just the five books of Moses in the

play37:36

narrow sense of course they are the

play37:38

anchor point of the whole but there is a

play37:40

vast body of literature that is based on

play37:43

the Torah and that comes out of the

play37:44

Torah or Scripture and the whole of

play37:46

Jewish life in all its aspects is shaped

play37:49

by the torrent of the kaltura and keep

play37:51

it on toska some judicially binho Silas

play37:54

picton so without the correct there

play37:57

would be no Judaism no Jewish people

play38:00

gave us can you little can you just

play38:02

follow it became the constitution of the

play38:06

Jews in the middle of the 5th century in

play38:14

332 BC the Greek Macedonian ruler

play38:17

Alexander the Great conquered the

play38:19

Mediterraneans east coast

play38:23

[Music]

play38:29

soon Judea also belongs to his vast

play38:32

realm

play38:33

even though Alexander's Empire fell

play38:34

apart shortly after his death Hellenic

play38:37

civilization influenced the entire

play38:39

region for centuries to come

play38:44

numerous cities were constructed on the

play38:46

Greek model one of the most important is

play38:49

Marissa

play38:54

[Music]

play39:00

these days there is little evidence of

play39:02

the city's former size in Israel's

play39:04

barren landscape the whole mountain is

play39:10

covered in a network of caves and

play39:12

cisterns made by the one-time

play39:14

inhabitants of Marissa

play39:19

[Music]

play39:29

one of the biggest is the Columbarium

play39:32

cave pigeons were bred in 2000 Nisha's

play39:36

as homing pigeons sacrificial animals

play39:38

all simply as food the Necropolis which

play39:49

is greek for city of the dead that is a

play39:51

cemetery it has only recently been

play39:54

restored Greek culture their sense of

play39:57

beauty and their worldly joie de vivre

play39:59

pervade the everyday lives of the Jewish

play40:01

inhabitants

play40:04

[Music]

play40:10

the rich upper-class is particularly

play40:13

fascinated the stately tombstones such

play40:16

as those here in the Kidron Valley in

play40:18

Jerusalem have Greek models

play40:24

the superficiality of the foreigners and

play40:27

their influence alarms the devout Jews

play40:29

in the first book of the Maccabees it is

play40:32

written that whereupon they built a

play40:35

place of exercise at Jerusalem according

play40:37

to the customs of the heathen and made

play40:39

themselves uncircumcised and forsook the

play40:42

holy Covenant and joined themselves to

play40:44

the heathen Judas is the scion of an old

play40:55

Jewish line of priests right from the

play40:58

start he's brought up to despise Rikka

play41:00

culture the polytheism of the occupying

play41:11

forces is idolatry and therefore a grave

play41:14

crime it angers his father the priest

play41:17

Mattathias

play41:18

particularly those Jews who conformed to

play41:20

much are an abomination to him a

play41:22

thousand times he's preached to his son

play41:24

to stay away from the unfaithful the

play41:29

situation escalates

play41:33

in 178 BC the successors of the Greek

play41:37

ruler Alexander attacked Jerusalem and

play41:39

dedicate the temple to the god Zeus king

play41:45

Antiochus forbids the reading of the

play41:47

Torah and circumcision he sends soldiers

play41:50

to force the population to worship Greek

play41:52

gods they come to moody in the home

play41:56

village of Judas in his family

play42:01

[Music]

play42:06

the priest Mattathias

play42:08

adores the inhabitants god forbid that

play42:12

we should forsake the law and the

play42:13

ordinances in a rage Mattathias kills

play42:17

the commander-in-chief the family flees

play42:23

into the mountains soon more and more

play42:26

followers come to join them for many

play42:28

decades the rebels fight the occupation

play42:34

after his father's death

play42:36

Judas takes over the leadership he gets

play42:39

the epithet Maccabi the hammer

play42:43

[Music]

play42:48

his biggest triumph judas maccabees

play42:51

reconquer 'he's the Temple Mount in

play42:52

Jerusalem and drives off there

play42:54

Hellenized Jews he destroys the Statue

play42:57

of Zeus and dedicates the temple to the

play42:59

god of the Jews again on the 25th of

play43:02

Kislev the third month of the Jewish

play43:04

calendar

play43:06

[Music]

play43:19

according to legend only a small bottle

play43:22

of ritual oil was left it is said to

play43:25

have fed the flame of the menorah the

play43:27

seven-branched candelabrum for eight

play43:29

days

play43:30

[Music]

play43:33

a new new chef chef Joe LaCava the

play43:59

fundamental message of the Hanukkah

play44:01

miracle is additional enormous if you

play44:05

just as we had a candle every day until

play44:07

we have eight so to every Jew and every

play44:10

human being should become better every

play44:12

day

play44:13

Dumbo should never be satisfied with

play44:15

what they have already accomplished the

play44:17

lorries to pick of a machine or tomatoes

play44:18

like Halle Berry

play44:21

[Music]

play44:31

since 1995 fifty years after the

play44:35

Holocaust the Jewish community in

play44:38

Frankfurt has been openly celebrating

play44:40

Hanukkah again

play44:58

every year around December Orthodox and

play45:01

liberal Jews meet in front of the old

play45:03

Opera House the celebration unites them

play45:05

with each other and with their ancestors

play45:07

in the second book of the Maccabees it

play45:10

is written that they ordained also by a

play45:13

common statute and decree that every

play45:15

year those days should be kept of the

play45:17

whole nation of the Jews

play45:25

[Music]

play45:31

the celebration of the dedication of the

play45:34

temple marks the glorious climax of the

play45:37

revolt the story of the heroic

play45:39

resistance of the Maccabees is told to

play45:41

this day when Judas died his brothers

play45:44

continued the fight his descendants

play45:47

continued to rule the independent state

play45:49

for another 200 years

play45:53

[Music]

play46:03

in 66 BC the Roman general Gaius

play46:07

Pompey's Magnus conquers Asia Minor

play46:11

[Music]

play46:17

Judea becomes part of the Roman province

play46:20

of Syria and is incorporated into the

play46:23

Roman superpower

play46:24

[Music]

play46:36

from now on the city on the Tiber will

play46:39

determine the fate of the Jewish people

play46:41

here a man enters the political arena

play46:44

who is despised by the Jewish people and

play46:47

feared by them because of his

play46:50

unscrupulousness herod the great the

play47:02

roman senate declares Herod king of

play47:04

Judea Rome will protect him as long as

play47:07

he represents Rome's interests he

play47:09

survives several changes of power at the

play47:11

head of the Roman state through charm

play47:13

and diplomacy when he ascends his Judea

play47:16

enthroned the real power behind him is

play47:19

actually Rome

play47:29

the king reciprocates he builds a huge

play47:32

port on the Mediterranean coast it

play47:34

becomes the biggest town in Judea bigger

play47:37

even than Jerusalem in honor of the

play47:39

Roman Caesars he names it Caesarea

play47:41

maritima Herod Commission's the best

play47:49

engineers the city was not to be

play47:52

inferior to Roman examples in any way

play47:54

the artificial harbour complex becomes

play47:57

the biggest in the eastern Mediterranean

play47:58

there's enough space for an entire Roman

play48:01

legion Herod is mostly concerned about

play48:04

the effect of the huge buildings he

play48:06

wants to modernize the state and impress

play48:08

his subjects

play48:10

[Music]

play48:20

the port of Caesarea is a destination

play48:23

for trading ships from all across the

play48:24

Roman world a tax-free zone is created

play48:27

to attract wealthy potential traders

play48:31

[Music]

play48:39

Caesarea becomes the showpiece of the

play48:42

entire region

play48:43

luxurious villas a forum theatre public

play48:46

baths and different temples are all to

play48:48

be found there

play48:52

added to this is a circus in which

play48:55

chariot races take place the city

play48:57

regularly hosts sporting contests and

play48:59

other mass events or dos nassif is [ย __ย ]

play49:09

the inherent personally experienced the

play49:12

power of Roman architecture

play49:13

he saw the force in charisma of the

play49:15

temples theaters circuses with his own

play49:17

eyes that's why he wanted to introduce

play49:21

them in his realm too because he saw in

play49:23

them the pinnacle of culture he probably

play49:29

wasn't a great intellectual he doubled

play49:32

it can inertia hold us luangta little

play49:35

girdle Jerusalem also still bears the

play49:40

signature of Herod everywhere the

play49:43

remains of his imposing construction

play49:45

projects are to be found the Cardo the

play49:47

great shopping street still runs through

play49:49

Jerusalem's Old Town

play49:56

nearby archaeologists excavated Herod's

play49:59

residential area in the 1970s this is

play50:02

where the rich and beautiful lived as

play50:04

luxuriously as they did in Rome with

play50:06

baths floor heating and elaborately

play50:09

painted walls

play50:10

[Music]

play50:21

the majority of the people remain

play50:24

suspicious they see the ambitious

play50:26

parvenu Herod as a Lackey of the Romans

play50:36

the King curries favor among the people

play50:40

one major building project is meant to

play50:42

silence the critics particularly the

play50:44

devout Jews a new temple is proposed

play50:47

which will even eclipse Solomon's Temple

play50:49

it is designed to have an inner

play50:51

courtyard which can accommodate vast

play50:53

crowds of pilgrims this is how Herod

play50:56

wants to go down in history his plan

play51:03

works for a while Herod even manages to

play51:06

unite religious splinter groups the

play51:08

construction of the temple doesn't just

play51:09

increase the prestige of the King but

play51:11

also that of the Jewish religion in the

play51:13

world

play51:14

it also breathes new life into Judean

play51:16

trade and Jerusalem becomes a metropolis

play51:19

in which a hundred thousand people live

play51:21

Herod however doesn't live to see its

play51:24

dedication he dies 60 years earlier

play51:27

[Music]

play51:31

even 2,000 years later the size of the

play51:35

area gives an idea of the overwhelming

play51:37

impression that the complex must have

play51:39

made on its visitors by far the most

play51:41

famous city of the east is what the

play51:43

Roman writer Pliny the Elder called

play51:44

ancient Jerusalem will the peace between

play51:47

the Jews and the Romans keep will the

play51:49

small rebellious people come to terms

play51:52

with foreign rule

play51:54

[Music]

play52:30

[Music]

play52:49

[Music]

play52:55

[Music]

Rate This
โ˜…
โ˜…
โ˜…
โ˜…
โ˜…

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Related Tags
Jewish HistoryMonotheismExodusPassoverTorahMosesJerusalemBabylonHerodian EraHanukkah